What is wrong with our campaign finance laws is he/she who has the gold makes the golden rules. No poor man or woman could ever be president in this country. It is not a race for the best candidate. It is a race to raise the most money and then that decides who will be the next president. --Rich, McKinney, Texas

Until we have government-financed campaigns, the laws will never change. Tinkering with the existing laws doesn't work. Somebody will find out how to get around them in a New York minute. --Robert, New Philadelphia, Ohio

The problem with campaign finance reform lies with the campaign model itself. Electing officials by means of raising massive amounts of money is fundamentally flawed. We desperately need to find a viable alternative. Until then, we will be continually held in the thrall of corporate interests. --Andy, Blaine, Washington

Is the Bush Administration sending mixed messages about the environment?

Mixed messages? I think it's pretty clear. When it comes to the environment, the President is finally saying what the majority of Americans want to hear, but the Administration isn't doing anything to back it up. --Elizabeth, Seattle

The Bush regime spent years denying there was any problem. Now they have no choice but to accept reality, but still they won't do anything that might actually cost their precious corporate owners a single cent. This Bush blather is nothing more than a pathetic and desperate attempt to leave some kind of legacy that isn't total failure. --Toni, Myrtle Beach, South Carolina

The Bush administration could not send out a straight message if they tried. The talk of wanting to help with global warming is just that, talk. Over the past 7 years they have always jumped on the topic others are discussing and tried to put their spin on it so it looks like they are doing something. The President is only trying to find some topic he can use to improve his image as he prepares to leave the White House. --M.F., Columbus, Ohio

Why do Americans trust the government less today than during the Watergate era?

Jack, The real question is: if people are so fed up, why are most of them leaning toward candidates that offer no real change? --John, Santa Fe, New Mexico

Jack, Our mistrust in government might have something to do with both parties focusing on repaying favors to their special interests and almost completely ignoring those of us who can't afford to give their campaigns large sums of money. --Ben, Dubuque, Iowa

I think the neo-cons today looked at what Nixon did and learned how to refine their criminal activities. How to successfully cover up, threaten, bribe, and smear all who stand in their way. They have completely ignored the rule of law, and spit on the Constitution. The Supreme Court is now a group of party line ideologues. Who could have imagined that one administration in just 7 years could be so dangerous and so humiliate and embarrass us as a nation? --Barbara, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Now that Iran's president has declared the dispute over his country's nuclear program "closed", what's next?Simply put, the U.S. will give a wink and a nod to the Israeli air force like it did in Syria and his nuclear bomb factories will be toast. Why shouldn't the country that this wacko is building the bombs to destroy have the right to take preemptive action? -Anthony, Cherry Hill, New Jersey

Iran should allow nuclear inspectors in to confirm that the program is in fact "closed". If it is, then leave them alone, if it's not, we need to keep the pressure on them until it is closed.-Christopher, Bedford, Texas

Iran has had a free hand in the Middle East for too long. Now it's time to move another aircraft carrier to the gulf and teach them a lesson. -Phillip, Denver, Colorado

Are you satisfied with how airlines treat delays?Absolutely not. Congress needs to put some heat on the airlines or the situation will never improve. -Harry, Nashville, Tennessee

The airlines could care less. Once you're there on the plane, they know the passenger can't do anything. And it's true, what are we gonna do? Get off the plane and walk? It’s a joke the way they treat customers. -Tom, Los Angeles, California

Well I'll complain if my burger is too overcooked at a restaurant. I'll complain about my paycheck at my job. I'll complain that my mother always needs to know where I'm going. But when it comes to the airport, I seem to have a heart there. Adding extra pressure on the airlines in trying to speed things up will just make us that more vulnerable to another catastrophe. I'll wait the extra hour or two if it means my life. -Chris, Green Brook, New Jersey

I think the airlines are doing the best they can, considering the circumstances. However, they should not be allowed to keep passengers in the aircraft sitting at the airport for extended periods, exceeding two hours at max. -Ken,Lynchburg, Virginia

Airlines should have doctors determine how long people should go without food or water or maybe the airlines could try this exercise: Walk in someone else's shoes. How long would you like to sit in a plane with no fresh air, crying children, and no water or food? -Lynne, Alaska

Where are we headed if a growing number of countries are using China and Russia as their role models?If a growing number of countries are using the totalitarian regimes of China and Russia as their role models, then that speaks volumes about the failed legacy of George W. Bush and Dick Cheney. With their ideological certitude, ignorance of history, arrogance, and inept mistakes, they have undermined the integrity and credulity of the nation and threaten the very principles upon which it is founded. -Mike

Jack, We are headed into a 3rd world status, where our voice as a world leader will cease to exist. We want everyone to live in peace and with democracy, but we use war as a 1st resort. We need to stop the proliferation of nuclear weapons here at home first, before we can make others stop. Our leaders are basically saying to the rest of the world, "Do as I say, not as I do". -Jason, Scottsdale, Arizona

If other countries are using China and Russia as role models they are headed in the wrong direction. Maybe it is a warning to the U.S. that we need to clean up our act if we are no longer a suitable role model to other countries. -Gene, Appleton, Wisconsin

Maybe those countries are turning toward China and Russia as role models because they don't find a true role model in the US. Today the word "democracy" is just another one of those words that are thrown around when justification is needed for one's self-interest. As the president of Iran pointed out, there are also serious human rights abuses perpetrated by "democracies" like (perish the thought) the US and Israel. -Richard, San Francisco, California

Should Columbia University have invited Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to speak?I am very much in favor of Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad speaking at Columbia University. Although I disagree with many of his views, I am not entirely sure that his views have been represented fairly, and so allow me to hear his views without media translation.-Pete, Columbus, Ohio

We are a nation of people who are free to speak our opinions. I see no better way to express our values and ideals than to allow a guest to do the same regardless of whether we agree or not.-Nikki, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

He should not have been invited. It was a disgrace to invite the leader of a country that is supporting the killing of American soldiers to speak. At least Columbia's president told him what most people in America think of him. -Michael

To: Lee Bollinger, President of Columbia University. Congratulations on your publicity coup! Pity that in the process, President Ahmadinejad got the publicity blitz he was seeking as well. The two of you certainly make a great self-promotion team. (It's irrelevant that you insulted & maligned the man -- all either of you were looking for was publicity, and you both got EXACTLY what you wanted.) -Elaine, New York

Absolutely. It's good to debate issues even if those topics are sensitive. For the first time our news was unedited and Ahmandinejad was convincing in his statements. -Joe, Addison, Illinois

One group says the Iraq war is costing $720 million a day. How could that money be better spent?Jack, The best thing we could do with the money used in Iraq each day is stop borrowing it and running up the debt for our grandkids and great grandkids to pay back. -Don, Columbia, Missouri

How could $720 million a day be used? My computer does not have enough space to list them all. Pay for universal health care. Bankroll Social Security and Medicare forever. Repair all the bridges in the U.S. Give every high school senior a 4-year college scholarship. The list goes on forever. -Grover, Fairfield, Ohio

By noon, every American could be a millionaire twice over. That would really boost the economy. Giving billions and billions away to oil execs, Halliburton, hedge fund managers and, generally, the top one percent of the wealthiest Americans hasn't really done much for my sector of the economy. Give me two million and then after lunch they can go back to shoveling money into their buddies' pockets. -Cy, Arlington, Virginia

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